Loic Remy may be way forward for Liverpool

Securing the services of a striker in January is among manager Brendan Rodgers' top priorities.

Loic Remy, the Marseille forward, scored 20 goals from 42 club appearances last season.

Liverpool have inquired about the availability of France international Loic Remy as they prepare to strengthen their forward line in the January window.

Brendan Rodgers, who has won just one of his first seven matches as Anfield manager, has prioritised attacking reinforcements after the club elected to loan Andy Carroll to West Ham United in August without signing a replacement.

Remy, ironically, was on the point of joining Chelsea from Marseille on August's transfer deadline day only for the deal to fall through when Liverpool backed out of a move for Daniel Sturridge.

Chelsea wanted to sell the occasional England international to Liverpool to fund Remy's purchase, but Rodgers was only prepared to commit to a season loan.

Remy scored 20 goals from 42 club appearances last season and has the flexibility to play as a centre forward or off the wing, a trait suited to the Rodgers's tactical plans. Conscious that their squad is not at the level to sustain a realistic challenge for Champions League qualification, Liverpool would like to add quality in both areas but will not overspend to do so.

Chelsea also retain an interest in Remy, 25, with Roberto Di Matteo unconvinced by Sturridge and short of experienced alternatives to owner Roman Abramovich's favourite Fernando Torres for the central striking role.

Di Matteo's 4-2-3-1 formation would also benefit from a more conventional winger than Juan Mata, Eden Hazard and Oscar, all of whom prefer to attack into central areas.

Though Liverpool have again been offered unsettled Newcastle United centre forward Demba Ba, club sources say they are unlikely to pursue the Senegal international.

The 27 year old has a £7 million (Dh41.3m) release clause in his Newcastle contract and is unhappy with a lack of recent playing time, but Liverpool declined to take Ba in the summer and remain unconvinced he is an appropriate acquisition now.

Liverpool are confident that Fabio Borini will have recovered from a fractured right foot by January. Borini, who has scored once in 11 appearances since signing from Roma for €13.3m (Dh61.2m) plus variables this summer, succumbed to the fracture while training with Italy's Under 21 squad last week.